Abundant lightning strikes are keeping California battling widespread wildfires and seeking help from Air Force firefighting aircraft, including the North Caroline Air National Guard we reported yesterday and Air Force Reserve Command’s modular airborne firefighting C-130s from Colorado. According to a June 25 release from US Northern Command, NORTHCOM has dispatched two AFRC MAFF-equipped C-130H3s from Peterson AFB, Colo., and a Defense Coordinating Element and is coordinating the Air Guard MAFF support to fight some 668 wildfires in California. “We are working with our interagency partners to support the State of California in any way we can,” said NORTCOM boss Gen. Gene Renuart.
Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, nominee to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Defense Department needs to upgrade its electronic warfare capability and its EW training ranges; just as his predecessor said at his own confirmation hearing.